8 hours ago

Sarah Person,

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)-- The Niskithe Prayer Camp was joined Monday by two other nonprofits throughout a demonstration of a housing advancement in south Lincoln.

Despite numerous efforts to stop it, recently, building and construction began on the website, which is near a Native American sweat lodge.

The prayer camp states the land is sacred.

More than 30 individuals were outside the County-City Building during the City Council meeting, making their voices heard.

Inside the council chambers, protesters used tape over their mouths and stood silently at the podium. They stated this is symbolic of how the City of Lincoln has actually silenced them.

Kevin Abourezk, a fan of the prayer camp, states that he hopes the city can reason with the group and provide it some sort of accommodation.

" We're still asking for some lodging for our sweat lodge, whether that's a park or some kind of green area across the roadway from this advancement," he stated.

Abourezk stated the buffer zone should be no less than 500 feet because without it, there are going to be calls to the authorities about the noise.

He included that he is concerned that others might not know about their customs and could be terrified by the sound.

Abourezk hopes that the sound and singing will get others to come see the sweat lodge and experience it on their own to get a better understanding of Native culture.

Classifications: Lancaster, News

Tags: city council, County-City Building, Development, real estate advancement, kevin abourezk, lincoln, localnativeamericans, native, native americans, Niskithe Prayer Camp, Prayer Camp, Protest, assistance, sweat lodge, wilderness crossing, wilderness park, wilderness park housing development

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